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Passion for Paddles

"It's one of my favorite paddles," paddle maker Doug Andrews, aka Silver Fox, said as he hoisted the Salmon Paddle above his head in his workshop, where more than a 100 paddles hang with their templates.

Story by Carole C. SavagePhotography by Doug Engle

Published: Wednesday, June 1, 2005 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.

It might seem an unlikely place to hold a world record, but to the best of his knowledge Doug Andrews has the largest collection of paddles in the world, and they're located in the Ocala National Forest.

Doug's home is near Eureka, off of a dirt back road of a paved back road and in the middle of thick trees, and his shop is right outside his front door. The shop is actually more of a covered pavilion with no dividing walls, and the 30 by 32 foot area houses antique and modern carving equipment, tools of all sorts, various framed recognitions and many, many paddles.

While the view is unmistakably the nature in the forest, it's almost easy to miss with so many art pieces around. From square handles to pear shaped, sharp points to smooth ends, his paddles represent diversity of purpose and meaning. They hang throughout the shop like a border, some painted and some merely stained.

Doug's enthusiasm for his craft is evident as he explains the purpose of different paddles.

"This one is made for fighting," he says, pulling some paddles from the wall and then holding them one by one. "The tip is shaped like the reverse V so you could yank a man out of his canoe and hold him down. And this one's tip is a spear, and you can guess what they did with that."

Throughout the years, Doug has carved 164 paddles, and his two favorites are made of cypress and black walnut, with both having square tips.

"They're just so easy to paddle with," he notes, pointing out one has a square handle while one is a modified pear shape.

Doug also carves small animals, masks, baskets and hatchets, often from Native American patterns. He is active in the Aquaholic Paddlers and White Buffalo Society, and as such participates in Pow Wows and other related gatherings, displaying and selling his paddles and a few other carved items.

"I used to take all the paddles, but after walking by 100 they start running together for people, so now I don't take nearly as many," he laughs.

Doug's Native American name is Silver Fox, and his pieces reflect a spirit and meaning. He easily relates how the Shaman waded into the stream and called down the ancestors with his Tlingit Rattle, which Doug has recreated in the shape of a fish.

One of the keys to good carving is the wood, and Doug works with all kinds, from cherry to pecan and cypress to cedar. In fact, one of his most impressive creations is made of 16 types of wood and took him 90 days to complete. It is his canoe, named Forest Fox, and the Western Red Cedar of the vessel seems to glow.

Strong patterns and the colors of the wood make it a showpiece, and Doug has indeed earned awards for it. It is one of 11 boats and clearly one of his favorites. He and his son have sailed in it, making it entirely functional as well as beautiful. It is a testament to his talent.

Growing up in Cooperstown, New York, Doug has always been in or near the water. He joined the Navy early on, and then worked for 27 years on tug boats, first in Port Everglades and then Port Canaveral. In 1980 he moved to Marion County to be near his parents who lived in the National Forest. In the early 1990s, he moved to his current home in the Forest.

The natural environment suited Doug, as he had been a hunter since age 14 and had worked to create boats as early as age 10. It was in Ft. Lauderdale in the early 1960s that his passion for paddles began, and today he works on his carving nearly full-time.

"This is my book where I keep patterns and such," Doug says, showing a much worn hard-covered journal where he has written notes, coded dimensions and styles and drawn designs on page after page. Through the years, Doug has visited many museums and researched volumes on paddles and wood objects.

He watches history and documentary pieces on television, often becoming inspired by something he sees. Much of this research has resulted in the nearly 370 patterns in his journal.

From the initial drawing to cutting the wood, burning it and carving details, Doug is the creative talent. Occasionally if a piece needs extensive painting with details, such as a paddle with an ornate bird's face, he will collaborate with another artist.

He enjoys working six to eight hours a day if the weather permits, and in Florida that often happens. He also enjoys the company of his son and of his daughter and her husband as well, all who live in the area. Doug's father and mother are now deceased, and the 72 year-old carver uses his father's pocket knife, often thinking of him.

Amidst the dust, the sander, the grinder, the used and newer equipment, Doug is happiest carving away and enjoying the nature around him and this is where he is likely to be found. Whether he keeps the hobby going or the hobby keeps him going is hard to tell but apparently good either way.

"I like it, and I enjoy working with wood," he said. "It's kind of like a hobby where the tail started wagging the dog."

<p>It might seem an unlikely place to hold a world record, but to the best of his knowledge Doug Andrews has the largest collection of paddles in the world, and they're located in the Ocala National Forest.</p><p> Doug's home is near Eureka, off of a dirt back road of a paved back road and in the middle of thick trees, and his shop is right outside his front door. The shop is actually more of a covered pavilion with no dividing walls, and the 30 by 32 foot area houses antique and modern carving equipment, tools of all sorts, various framed recognitions and many, many paddles. </p><p> While the view is unmistakably the nature in the forest, it's almost easy to miss with so many art pieces around. From square handles to pear shaped, sharp points to smooth ends, his paddles represent diversity of purpose and meaning. They hang throughout the shop like a border, some painted and some merely stained. </p><p>Doug's enthusiasm for his craft is evident as he explains the purpose of different paddles.</p><p>"This one is made for fighting," he says, pulling some paddles from the wall and then holding them one by one. "The tip is shaped like the reverse V so you could yank a man out of his canoe and hold him down. And this one's tip is a spear, and you can guess what they did with that."</p><p>Throughout the years, Doug has carved 164 paddles, and his two favorites are made of cypress and black walnut, with both having square tips.</p><p>"They're just so easy to paddle with," he notes, pointing out one has a square handle while one is a modified pear shape.</p><p>Doug also carves small animals, masks, baskets and hatchets, often from Native American patterns. He is active in the Aquaholic Paddlers and White Buffalo Society, and as such participates in Pow Wows and other related gatherings, displaying and selling his paddles and a few other carved items. </p><p>"I used to take all the paddles, but after walking by 100 they start running together for people, so now I don't take nearly as many," he laughs. </p><p>Doug's Native American name is Silver Fox, and his pieces reflect a spirit and meaning. He easily relates how the Shaman waded into the stream and called down the ancestors with his Tlingit Rattle, which Doug has recreated in the shape of a fish.</p><p>One of the keys to good carving is the wood, and Doug works with all kinds, from cherry to pecan and cypress to cedar. In fact, one of his most impressive creations is made of 16 types of wood and took him 90 days to complete. It is his canoe, named Forest Fox, and the Western Red Cedar of the vessel seems to glow. </p><p>Strong patterns and the colors of the wood make it a showpiece, and Doug has indeed earned awards for it. It is one of 11 boats and clearly one of his favorites. He and his son have sailed in it, making it entirely functional as well as beautiful. It is a testament to his talent.</p><p>Growing up in Cooperstown, New York, Doug has always been in or near the water. He joined the Navy early on, and then worked for 27 years on tug boats, first in Port Everglades and then Port Canaveral. In 1980 he moved to Marion County to be near his parents who lived in the National Forest. In the early 1990s, he moved to his current home in the Forest. </p><p>The natural environment suited Doug, as he had been a hunter since age 14 and had worked to create boats as early as age 10. It was in Ft. Lauderdale in the early 1960s that his passion for paddles began, and today he works on his carving nearly full-time.</p><p>"This is my book where I keep patterns and such," Doug says, showing a much worn hard-covered journal where he has written notes, coded dimensions and styles and drawn designs on page after page. Through the years, Doug has visited many museums and researched volumes on paddles and wood objects. </p><p>He watches history and documentary pieces on television, often becoming inspired by something he sees. Much of this research has resulted in the nearly 370 patterns in his journal. </p><p> From the initial drawing to cutting the wood, burning it and carving details, Doug is the creative talent. Occasionally if a piece needs extensive painting with details, such as a paddle with an ornate bird's face, he will collaborate with another artist. </p><p>He enjoys working six to eight hours a day if the weather permits, and in Florida that often happens. He also enjoys the company of his son and of his daughter and her husband as well, all who live in the area. Doug's father and mother are now deceased, and the 72 year-old carver uses his father's pocket knife, often thinking of him.</p><p> </p><p> Amidst the dust, the sander, the grinder, the used and newer equipment, Doug is happiest carving away and enjoying the nature around him and this is where he is likely to be found. Whether he keeps the hobby going or the hobby keeps him going is hard to tell but apparently good either way.</p><p> "I like it, and I enjoy working with wood," he said. "It's kind of like a hobby where the tail started wagging the dog."</p>